Seven steps to frizz-free hair forever

Frizz: It's what turns a good hair day bad. A cheery mood sour. A casual glance in the mirror to reapply lipstick into a moment of tress distress. To manage frizz, you have to first understand why it happens and then learn how to beat it.

What Is Frizz?

Frizz happens when dry hair collides with humidity. Those parched, porous strands suck up the excess moisture in the air. As the strands swell, the outer layer (aka cuticle) of your hair lifts. The result: The smooth tresses you left home with this morning are now a ruffled, haywire mess.

Seven Steps to Frizz-free, Silky, Healthy Hair

Fighting stress means maintaining your hair in the best possible condition. Here are the seven elements of an anti-frizz defense.

1. Moisturize.

Frizz-free hair starts in the shower, with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Well-hydrated hair is less likely to absorb water from the humid air. Be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly to make sure the conditioning ingredients are distributed to every thirsty strand.

2. Dry your hair gently.

Gently blot your hair with a towel for two to three minutes. Don't rub your hair vigorously or wrap it in a towel turban; both will disturb the hair cuticle. Next, detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb.

3.Heat-style the right way.

To minimize damage from hot tools, let your hair dry at least 50 percent before you use a blow dryer. During these 20 minutes or so, avoid touching your hair to keep that cuticle intact.

4.Use a heat-protectant product.

Apply a heat-protectant product before you use your blow dryer or any other hot tool. Always use the nozzle on your dryer, and keep it pointed downward. Using a large natural-bristle round brush, dry your hair from roots to tips, one section at a time. Forget drying your tresses with your head flipped upside down, says Cheng Tan, a stylist who's regularly backstage during New York Fashion Week shows. "That method just creates frizzies on the top layer of your hair," she says.

5. Set your style with an anti-frizz hairspray.

This is especially important if you have thicker hair because the increased amount of protein in your sturdy locks makes them able to absorb 40 percent more moisture than fine hair.

6. Tame hairline flyaways on the fly.

If your hair is straight, lightly spritz a baby toothbrush with a shine spray, and skim over the fuzzy halo. Keep curly locks smooth by rubbing a pea-sized dab of an anti-frizz styling cream between your palms. Then gently run your palms over the surface of your hair.

7. Keep your hair healthy.

Regular trims and deep conditioning once a week will maintain your hair in tip-top shape -- your best guard against frizz. Remember to always handle your hair gently: Don't brush it roughly or rip elastics out of your pony. Pampered hair will reward you with pouf-free beauty!

Shelley Levitt is the managing editor of The Style Glossy. Sheis a former West Coast editor of Self and senior writer at People.